Distillation of carbonaceous substances



June 24, 1930. R. SUTCLIFFE 1,767,231

I DISTILLATIQN OF CARBONACEOU SUBSTANCES Filed July 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Gas and Vapour 01/2767 Fefvrf Inventor June 24, 1930. E. R. SUTCLIFFE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES Filed m 16. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 6. X 141E454,

M a m HEATER\ 45 duced as descri Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed July 18, 1824, Serial No. 726,894, and in Great Britain July 25, 1928. j

to be distilled and in part is utilized for heating one of a pair of heaters, regenerators or blast stoves (hereinafter called heaters) that are alternately used for super-heating the steam before its admission to the charge. It will be understood that the steam is decomposed on contact with the incandescent 1 carbon and that water gas maybe produced.

According to the invention moreover the treatment is carried out invertical retorts, and heaters advantageously provided in pairs for alternate use, are built in the same settin and conveniently in position immediately side the respective retorts; and beneath each heater a combustion chamber is,

provided within which part of the gas prodnced is burnt, whereby when one heater is used for superheating the steamintended for use in the distillation, a part of the resulting gas flows up the retort through the charge therein for the purpose of applying heat thereto, whereby art of its sensible heat is absorbed in the istillation of the volatile content, while another part of the resulting gas passes into the combustion chamber of the other heater where it is burnt, the roducts of combustion assing 85 upwardly t ough the heater where y it is heated. After a determined period the temperature of the heater through which the steam has been passed for super-heating it, will have reached a low degreewhile the 40 other heater of the -pair will have been raised to a high temperature. The steam will then be cut off from the cooled heater and used through that which has been heate At the same-time art of the resulting gas proer, whereby the course. of the steam and gas is thus reversed for a further determined period, the alternation continuing so long as the retort is maintained in operation.

will then be burnt in the combustion chamber beneath the cooled heat- Z The invention com rises the features which are hereinafter dhscribed. v The invention is diagrammatically illus trated in the accompanying drawing which illustrates a retort setting constructed for use according to the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section.

Fi re 2 is a horizontal transverse section on t e line 2-2 Fi re 1," in which one 00 heater is shown filled with reticulated brickwork.

Figure 3 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 3-3 Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 4-4 Figure 1.

In the drawings one unit alone is illustrated, and this may be contained in an independent setting, or as is preferred a number of vertical retorts are advantageously arranged in line in the same setting, and pairs of heaters disposed one at each side of each retort in the manner illustratedin the drawin i In carrying the invention into effect as illustrated in the accompanying diagram- -matic drawing, a number of vertical retorts a are advantageously provided in the same settin and these retorts are conveniently provi ad of an oblong cross-sectional shape, with the major axes of the cross-sections in line; and the retorts a: may advantageously be provided of firebrick. The retorts are advantageousl ta red outwardly towards the bottom. e li aters b b are provided 5 in pairs and of a width substantially coextensive with the'respective retorts with no intermediate brickwork between, so that thus heat is directly transmitted from'the heaters b b to the parallel op sitely disposed walls of the. retort. The ower end of the retort is carried by firebrick c which bridges over a cavity formed b two parallel vertical walls beneath the pan of heaters.

Immediately beneath the retorts a receptacle is formed in the brickwork of whichthe lower part d of the setting is made, and this takes a form corresponding to the lower end of the retort, but its-upper part is ,flared outwardly at P so that thus in operation the charge may accumulate in position between the bridge 0 and the receptacle Z in the lower part (i of the setting, wherein the charge may be to a certain extent cooled before its periodic dischar e. Beneath the heaters b b, combustion c ambers e e are provided and in position between the vertical walls of the combustion chambers e e, brickwork f is provided in which air holes are formed which open out on the incline faces f of the brickwork, so that thus narrow spaces It intervene between the brickwork f and the bridge 0, through which gas may pass from the charge and may be burnt in the combustion chamber 6 or e on the admission of air through the air holes g.

The heaters may be provided of the usual reticulated brickwork and spaces of ample area are formed in the lower part of the heaters b I) through which the flames and gasesfrom the combustion chambers e e may pass to the heaters or-through which steam from the heaters may pass to the combustion chambers. Steam is led into the heaters through the steam inlet k or is, while a waste gas outlet (not indicated in the drawing) is also provided for each heater.

A gas off-take fitting 2' is mounted at the top of the retort, and a gas off-take pipe is connected to this fitting by which the gas and vapour may be led into the hydraulic main; and above thefittin 2' is disposed a hopper fitting j through W ich the coal or other carbonaceous substance may be fed into the retort.

In operation it will be understood that the charge is periodically fed to the retorts a and is periodically withdrawn. The steam admitted at 10 into the heater 6 passes downwardly and is raised to a high temperature, for example to a temperature of 850 C. It then passes through the combustion chamber 6 through the space It into the charge accumulating beneath the lower end of the retort. The steam thus superheated, passes through the accumulation of fuel beneath the retort a, and a combustible gas is produced b its decomposition in reaction, and part 0 this combustible gas passes up through the charge of fuel in the retort, imparting its sensible heat to the charge, and thus efi'ectin its distillation, the vapour and gas passing outwardly through the gas off-take plpe, together with any residual steam that may not have been decomposed.

. Another part of the combustible gas produced passes out into the combustion chamber e, and in passing through the narrow space It is burnt with air passing in through the air holes 9 Thus the flame and hot gases pass upwardly into the heater b. After a determined period, for example 30 minutes, the heater b will have been'heated to a sufiiciently high temperature, and the heater I) will have been cooled, whereupon the supply of steam may be cut off from the heater b and be admitted to the heater b. The waste gas outlet of the heater 1) is simultaneously closed, and the waste gas outlet of the heater 6 is opened, whereupon a com lete reversal of the o ration may be carrie out for afurther per1od,'and thus the operations may be alternately repeated, while the charge is periodically or continuously withdrawn through the outlet fitting m.

N o limitation is involved to the particular temperature conditions that may be used. Where for example it is desired to produce a maximum quantity of oils and tar from coal, the distillation ma be carried out at a low temperature such or example as 750 0., and an excess of steam used; whereas if a maximum gas production is desired the distillation may be carried out for example to 1200 C., and such a quantity of steam admitted as can be readily decomposed; while if a high yield of oils and tar and a high yield of gas are desired the process may be carried out at a high temperature wit excess of steam.

It will be understood that gas may be admitted with the steam, whereby the distillation may be carried out in the same manner as hereinbefore described; or combustible gas alone may be used, the gas being admitted alternately through the respective heaters, instead of steam.

The method and apparatus of the invention may be used for the distillation of coal which has been reduced to a uniform condition of extreme fineness and compressed into stonelike blocks or pieces without the necessary use of a binder, that is to the coking of blocks produced according to the process of theprior Patent No. 1,261,711 by subjecting such blocks to the process of the prior Patent No. 1,261,645; or the method and apparatus may be used for carrying out the treatment of distillation for the production of absorbent or contact material according to the prior application No. 354,468, or otherwise for the distillation of coal and other similar solid carbonaceons substances, in substitution of the method and apparatus usually employed.

It will be understood that the duration of the distillation, that is to say the rate of discharge, will be determined according to 'phases 0 chequered blast stoves one at each side of the said retort, means by which hot gas may be passed through one of the said chequered blast stoves a ternately and means by which a gaseous medium may be passed through the other of the said 0 quered blast stoves alternatel and into the said retort, the said setting. ai so having combustion chambers respectively beneath each of the said chequered blast stoves, the said combustion cham- .bers being in communication with the said respective chequered blast stoves and with the lower end of the said retort throughout both 'phases of the alternating cycle, the said combustion chambers serving alternately for the combustion of, the said hot gas therein, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. An apparatus for the distillation of coal and similar carbonaceous substances, comprising in combination within a setting, of a substantially vertical retort, two chequered blast stoves one at each side of the said retort, means by which hot as may be passed through one of the said 0 equered blast stoves alternately and means by which a gaseous medium ma be passed through the other of the said c equered blast stoves alternately and into the said retort, the said setting also having combustion chambers respectively beneath each of the said chequered blast stoves,the said combustion chambers being" in communication with the said respective retort throu hout both the alternating cyc e the said combustion chambers servin alternately for the combustion of the said iOt gas therein, the said setting also having a space in communication with the combustion chambers throu hout both phases of the alternating cycle neath the said retort adapted to receive the incandescent charge on its issue from the lower end of the said retort, substantially as hereinbefore described. 3. An apparatus for the distillation of coal and similar carbonaceous substances,

comprising in combination within a setting, of a substantially vertical retort, two ch'eq-- uered blast stoves one at each side of the said retort, means by which hot gas may be passed throu h one of the said chequered blast stoves a ternately and means by which a gaseous medium ma be passed through the other of the said 0 equered blast stoves alternatel and into the said retort, thesaid setting a o havin combustion chambers respectively beneat each of the said chequered blast stoves, the said combustion chambers being in communication with the said respective chequered blast stoves and with the lower end of the said retort throughout both phases of the alternating cycle the said combustion chambers serving alternately for the combustion of the sa1d hot gas therein, the said setting having a space in communication with the combustion chambers throughout both phases of the alternating cycle beneath the said retort adapted to receive the incandescent char e on its issue from the lower end of the sa1d retort and havin an outwardly extending substantially horizontal wall at the lower end of the said retort and (partially-forming the lower part of the sai respective cornbustion chambers, substantially as hereinbefore described. I

4. An apparatus .for the distillation of coal and similar carbonaceous substances, comprising in combination Within a setting, of a substantially vertical retort, two chequered blast stoves one at each side of said retort, means by which hot gas may be passed through one of the said chequered blast stoves alternately and means by. which a gaseous medium may be passed through the other of the said chequered blast stoves alternately and into the said retort, the

hot gas therein, the said setting havin a s ace in communication with the combustion c ambers throughout both phases of the alternating cycle beneath the said retort adapted to receive the incandescent charge on its issue from the lower end of the said retort and a receptacle disposedbeneath and in line with the said retort whence the charge may be withdrawn, substantially as 

